This is an incredibly rare 37-shot Austro-Hungarian Montigny Mitrailleuse Szorloveg ("Spray Gun", and/or "Volley Gun") Model 1851/65 manufactured by G. Sigl of Vienna, Austria. The Model 1851/65 was manufactured by OEWG Steyr for the Austrian Army in 1870, and by G. Sigl for the Hungarian Army in 1871, with only approximately 80 or more pieces reportedly made in total between the two companies (this example is numbered 84). This Austro-Hungarian Model 1851/65 is a licensed variant based off of the Montigny Mitrailleuse (translated "machine gun" or "grapeshot"), which was developed by the Belgian Engineer Joseph Montigny between 1859-1870 as an improved version of the Mitrailleuse, originally invented in 1851 by Belgian Captain Fafschamps as a 50-barrelled volley gun. Montigny approached the French Army with his gun for the purpose of a sale in 1863, and Napoleon III showed interest in it; with approximately 200 examples made known as the "Reffye Mitrailleuse", a 25-barrel variant fired through the use of a crank and chambered in 13mm, manufactured in secret under French supervision for the French Army and used in the Franco-Prussian War. The concept was still very new in terms of how to effectively utilize weapons such as this, and the French commanders chose to use them like artillery, firing at long range where they were found to be inaccurate and underpowered in that role. They were outperformed by the Prussian Krupp artillery, which would lend to the idea in Europe as a whole that "machine guns" (including Gatling guns of the time) were typically not as effective as artillery pieces; not to be effectively utilized until World War I with the widespread use of Maxim machine guns on either side of the trenches (some Montigny guns also saw limited use in a defense role as late as World War I!). The Austro-Hungarian Montigny differs in that it is chambered in centerfire 11.15x42mmR caliber as used in the Austrian Werndl-Holub Model 1867 rifle then in service, it has a 37-barrel group fired through the use of a lever, and the gun carrier was adapted from the M1863 80mm cannon. The group consists of 37 rifled barrels mounted parallel, in a hexagonal shape, surrounded by a cover, with a post front sight and ladder rear sight. It feeds from reloadable steel loading plates that are able to hold 37 cartridges, and a slot is located in the face of the breech block for the loading plate to slide in from the top by hand through the use of gravity. Once loaded, firing is performed through the use of a rear mounted lever (or firing arm) which is pushed downwards by the user to push the rounds into their respective chambers, and once they reach the end of their travel and enter their chambers, all 37 cartridges are detonated at the same time through the use of 37 firing pins! The spent shells are removed while still attached to the loading plate and a new plate is able to be inserted. These Austro-Hungarian Montigny volley guns typically had 3 operators and 4 ammunition suppliers. The gun carriage has two large fixed wooden crates attached that carry 10 loading plates each, which means it has the capability of carrying 740 rounds of ammunition on this gun carriage alone, and was typically accompanied by an attached ammunition cart (not included) that could reportedly carry an additional 13,200 rounds, and a gun train (not included) able to carry 2,590 rounds. The operators were able to load 8-10 loading plates per minute, sustaining a firing rate of 296-370 rounds per minute, which was certainly devastating to anyone on the receiving end if used properly. A symbol of a crown above a lion and "L.CHRISTOPHE & J.MONTIGNY/No 4/BREVETES" is marked on top of the breech block. "No. 84/G. SIGL/WIEN PATENT" embossed on an oval bronze plate affixed to the top of the housing. The carriage has a clever flip open door with a range chart on the underside. Includes 14 of the 37-round loading plates in total housed in the two crates attached to the axle of the carriage, and various period tools inside a compartment of the carriage.

Good, with untouched age darkened patina overall and areas of surface corrosion, with otherwise defined markings. Carriage is also good, with scattered corrosion and pitting on the cast iron fittings and some cracks in the wood and hubs of the wheels, although it still appears to remain sound. Functions mechanically fine. Surviving examples of Montigny pattern Mitrailleuse multi-barrel volley guns are extremely rare in any form, with the limited remaining examples residing in overseas museums (this writer does not know of any examples stateside). This is the only example of a Montigny that Rock Island Auction Company has ever had the privilege to offer for public sale! Serving as an impressive piece in the history of development of firearms, this Austro-Hungarian 37-shot Montigny volley gun would make an incredible addition to any advanced military arms collection!